 Calangute
beach, located 16km from Panaji, the capital of Goa is popularly
known as the 'Queen of the Goan Beaches'. This splendid palm-fringed beach
is the most popular holiday resort in Goa, often crowded with people.
Calangute is situated on the shores of the Arabia Sea
in North Goa and encircled by the villages of Arpora-Nagoa, Saligao and
Candolim, in the Bardez taluk. Calangute covers several sub-beaches, including
Baga and Anjuna beaches.
The beach and the fishing village was a favorite hideout of the hippies
in the 70's and 80's. It was the hippies who discovered this pristine
beach in the late 60s. Today, Calangute beach symbolise Goa's reputation
as a haven for beach lovers.
Calangute was not the original name of the beach, but
a Portuguese distortion of the originally Goan name of "Koli
Gutti", which means the land of the fishermen. Some people refer
to it as Kolyianguttti, Kalangutti (village of art) Kolngutt, Kongott
or Konvallo-ghott ( pit of the coconut tree) because of the abundance
of coconut trees found here.
 Known
for its idyllic beauty, Calangute attracts thousands of tourists. It is
now Goa’s busiest and most commercialised resort. The beach is very
crowded during daytime with locals and tourists. Laid with golden sand
and no rocks, it is ideal for lazing around in the sun and swimming. The
beach stretch is full of shacks and stalls selling delicious seafood and
beer, seashell trinkets etc and hawkers selling sarongs. A lot of shows
are held on the beach including rock and pop shows, open air dances and
fetes. There are facilities for water sports activities such as para sailing,
water-skiing and wind surfing which starts by afternoon when the wind
is blowing in the right direction, and ends at sunset. A beginner can
take some diving lessons or embark on fishing trips and Dolphin cruises.
|
|
|
Beaches 
Write
Comments
NEXT
